On a sweltering Friday night typically reserved for chocolate bars and carousel rides, Hersheypark Stadium transformed into a cathedral of carnage. The sweet scent of chocolate that usually defines Hershey, Pennsylvania gave way to something far more intoxicating: the unmistakable aroma of sweat, leather, and pure metallic fury. Metalheads from across the Northeast converged on this amusement epicenter for what was billed as “The Heaviest Tour of the Summer.” With expectations volcanic, the reality delivered utter detonation.
Under a canopy of stars and stadium lights, three generations of metal excellence converged for what would become one of summer 2025’s most significant heavy music events. The 30,000-capacity venue, with its expansive field and towering grandstands, provided the perfect amphitheater for this celebration of filth, mythology, and resurrection.
Shock Narcotic: Filth, Fury, and Feedback
Detroit’s finest filth merchants hit the stage first—and didn’t bother asking permission. Opening duties fell to these modern grind evangelists, who faced the daunting task of warming up a stadium crowd for two legendary acts. What unfolded was blunt-force trauma delivered with surgical precision.
Complete Setlist: Fractured Reality / Blood and Thunder / Machine of Hate / Synthetic Dreams / Collapse / Dead Weight / Rise Above
Shock Narcotic’s set was a blitzkrieg of grind, math metal, and sonic nihilism that transformed the arena from warm-up to war zone within minutes. “Fractured Reality” erupted like a sonic bomb, immediately establishing their crushing low-end approach and the vocalist’s impressive range that cut through the stadium like a serrated blade.
“Blood and Thunder” showcased intricate guitar work that drew clear influences from both classic grinding brutality and modern progressive complexity. The crowd’s initial hesitation gave way to visceral engagement during “Machine of Hate,” a mid-tempo crusher that had entire sections of the field moving like a single organism of controlled violence.
Their bare-bones stage presence only amplified the chaos – no theatrics, no gimmicks, just pure sonic assault delivered with mathematical precision. “Synthetic Dreams” highlighted their more experimental tendencies, featuring dissonant passages that demonstrated their versatility beyond pure aggression, while “Collapse” lived up to its name, creating a wall of sound that seemed to physically press against the audience.
The set’s climax came with “Rise Above,” an anthemic closer that left the crowd visibly shaken—like they’d been mugged by sound itself. Each track was sharp, splintered, and feral, proving that Shock Narcotic possessed both the technical proficiency and stage command necessary to open for metal royalty. By their closing note, the audience was primed and bleeding for the Viking invasion that would follow.
Amon Amarth: No Pyro Needed – Mythic Weight Delivered
As twilight descended over central Pennsylvania, the stage transformation began. While Amon Amarth may have shelved their signature fire and elaborate battle theatrics for this tour leg, the Swedes brought mythic weight that rendered pyrotechnics unnecessary. When the opening rumble of Swedish death metal began to emanate from the massive sound system, Hersheypark Stadium became Valhalla.
Complete Setlist: Guardians of Asgaard / Shield Wall / The Pursuit of Vikings / Deceiver of the Gods / Put Your Back Into the Oar / We Rule the Waves / The Way of Vikings / Raise Your Horns / Twilight of the Thunder God
Johan Hegg emerged like a Nordic warlord, his commanding presence immediately transforming the atmosphere from mere concert to mythological battlefield. Frontman Hegg stalked the stage with the authority of ancient chieftains, pouring guttural power into every track while the dual-guitar assault of Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg wove intricate melodies through devastating rhythms.
“Guardians of Asgaard” erupted with the force of ancient warfare, the crowd’s response immediate and visceral – this wasn’t just music, it was a call to arms that transcended language and culture. “Shield Wall” demonstrated the band’s ability to create music that feels both ancient and modern, traditional Norse themes blending seamlessly with crushing metal production.
The crowd didn’t just chant—they roared. During “The Pursuit of Vikings,” oars went up across the stadium, creating a sea of raised arms that stretched to the back rows. “Put Your Back Into the Oar” became a stadium-wide participation anthem, while “We Rule the Waves” had the entire venue moving like a violent ocean under Norse command.
The evening’s most memorable moment arrived during “Raise Your Horns,” when Hegg paused mid-song to pay tribute to “the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne,” leading the crowd in a massive beer toast that felt like a genuine viking celebration. Horns stayed high as 30,000 drinking vessels raised toward the Pennsylvania sky, creating a moment of unity that exemplified metal’s power to create instant community.
Hershey wasn’t just listening; it was sailing with them, deep into Norse legend. The set’s climactic “Twilight of the Thunder God” left the stadium thundering with approval, the massive crowd thoroughly prepared for the groove metal resurrection that would close the evening. After two decades of Viking metal mastery, Amon Amarth proved that raw power and mythological storytelling could create spectacle more impressive than any stage effect.
Pantera: Living Legacy in Full Power – Resurrection Achieved
The moment had arrived. As the lights dimmed and the familiar opening drone of “Hellbound” began to emanate from the speakers, 30,000 voices rose in anticipation. This was the resurrection everyone had come to witness – not just a tribute, but a living legacy delivered with full power and authentic fury.
Complete Setlist: Hellbound / 5 Minutes Alone / Strength Beyond Strength / Mouth for War / Goddamn Electric / Becoming (with “Throes of Rejection” outro) / I’m Broken (with “By Demons Be Driven” outro) / 10’s / I’ll Cast a Shadow / This Love / Cowboys From Hell
Encore: A New Level / Walk / Domination/Hollow / Fucking Hostile
Pantera didn’t play a show—they staged a resurrection. Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown were joined by Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, each bringing reverence and fire to the band’s loaded legacy without falling into mere mimicry. This was continuation, not imitation.
“Hellbound” exploded across the stadium with crushing authority, immediately establishing that this incarnation possessed the power and conviction necessary to honor their legendary catalog. Anselmo, commanding and cathartic, treated the mic like a weapon—and the audience like a congregation, his weathered voice carrying decades of experience and emotion with every growled syllable.
“5 Minutes Alone” followed with punishing intensity, Wylde’s guitar work merciless, his solos drenched in grime and grit that honored Dimebag’s legacy while asserting his own identity. The crowd’s response was so overwhelming that the band paused to absorb the moment.
Benante’s drumming thundered with authentic fury throughout, channeling Vinnie Paul’s spirit without mimicry, providing the relentless foundation that made Pantera’s groove so distinctive and influential. “Strength Beyond Strength” and “Mouth for War” showcased the band’s ability to seamlessly blend different eras of their catalog, each song delivered with the precision of seasoned professionals and the passion of true believers.
The evening’s emotional apex came during “Goddamn Electric,” when Anselmo picked up Dimebag’s original Dean From Hell guitar for an extended solo that turned nostalgia into ritual. The crowd fell silent, then erupted in appreciation as this moment served as both tribute and transcendence – a blessing that allowed the music to continue rather than merely survive.
Innovative mashups like “Becoming” flowing into “Throes of Rejection” and “I’m Broken” morphing into “By Demons Be Driven” demonstrated creative evolution rather than mere nostalgia. Deep cuts like “10’s” and “I’ll Cast a Shadow” proved this wasn’t just a greatest hits experience, while classics like “This Love” and “Cowboys From Hell” generated the expected pandemonium.
The four-song encore was nothing short of triumphant. “A New Level” built anticipation with surgical precision before the inevitable “Walk” transformed the stadium into a 30,000-person mosh pit. Thousands of voices joined Anselmo in that immortal command to “respect, walk,” creating a moment of communion that transcended individual experience.
The show’s climax arrived with the epic “Domination/Hollow” medley, Wylde’s guitar work soaring over the crowd as the rhythm section created a foundation powerful enough to move mountains. The final “Fucking Hostile” left the crowd both exhausted and exhilarated, having witnessed something that felt both nostalgic and vital – a resurrection achieved through pure musical power.
Technical Excellence and Spiritual Communion
From a production standpoint, the show was flawless. The sound engineering handled the punishing volume levels without distortion, allowing each band’s sonic signature to shine through with remarkable clarity. The lighting design enhanced each performance without overwhelming it, while the venue’s natural acoustics proved capable of handling everything from grinding feedback to thunderous double bass drums.
The stage production struck the perfect balance between spectacle and substance, accommodating each band’s unique requirements seamlessly – from Shock Narcotic’s stripped-down brutality to Amon Amarth’s mythological presence to Pantera’s groove metal resurrection.
Baptized in Riffs: A Night for the Ages
Three bands. One stadium. Thousands of souls pummeled, purified, and permanently marked. This concert will be remembered as one of summer 2025’s defining metal events, a night where filth, mythology, and resurrection converged to create something transcendent.
Shock Narcotic ignited the spark with their surgical brutality, proving that modern extreme metal could hold its own alongside legends. Amon Amarth summoned gods through mythological storytelling and crushing riffs, creating community through shared Norse fantasy. Pantera forged communion through groove metal mastery, proving that some legacies are too powerful to die.
The emotional weight was palpable throughout – grief for fallen legends, celebration of surviving artists, and hope for metal’s continued evolution. Each band contributed something essential to the evening’s narrative, creating a complete experience that honored metal’s past while celebrating its future.
Standout Moments:
- Shock Narcotic’s “Machine of Hate” transforming stadium hesitation into visceral engagement
- Amon Amarth’s beer toast tribute to Ozzy creating instant Viking brotherhood
- Anselmo’s emotional guitar solo on Dimebag’s original Dean turning tribute into ritual
- The massive sing-along during “Walk”
- The technical perfection of sound and production throughout all three distinct performances
Bottom Line: Hersheypark may be a land of sweetness—but for one night, it tasted like sweat, distortion, and metal history. “The Heaviest Tour of the Summer” delivered exactly what its name promised, proving that in an era where metal often feels fragmented, the right combination of bands, venue, and crowd energy can still create something genuinely transcendent. This wasn’t just a concert – it was a baptism in riffs that left everyone present permanently marked by the experience.
